New pope heartens faithful

Maria Santillan (from left), Ampelia Calderon and Yolanda Guerrero join in songs of joy at the start of the annual Lenten Mission at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Vista on Wednesday. / Photo by Hayne Palmour IV • U-T

Maria Santillan (from left), Ampelia Calderon and Yolanda Guerrero join in songs of joy at the start of the annual Lenten Mission at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Vista on Wednesday. / Photo by Hayne Palmour IV • U-T

Jorge Mario Bergoglio on Wednesday became the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church. The 76-year-old, who hails from Argentina, is a Jesuit priest who chose the title Francis I for his papacy.

Here are the reactions of some residents of an Diego County and Tijuana:

“He looks to be very kind and pastoral, and we are just all hoping and praying for him that he executes this job. ... To have someone outside of Europe shows (the church) is inclusive of the whole world.”

“People from Latin America have been undervalued by Europe. Having a pope from Latin America dignifies and exalts the people of America as a whole. ... It seems that evangelization and faith will rise in Latin America with a Latin American pope.”

The Rev. Rubén Arceo López, president of the Jesuit-run Universidad Iberoamericana’s campus in Tijuana

“I heard that as an archbishop he used to take the subway or ride a bike to work. He sold the residency of the archbishop to move into a simpler place. That is a good sign. Choosing the name of Francis is also a good sign. I’m sure a lot of stories will come out as to why, but I suspect it is because of his care and concern for the poor.”

The Rev. Robert Fambrini, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Barrio Logan

“It sounds to us that he is a very, very humble person. ... Our people need to have faith at this time because so many not-good things are happening around the Catholic people. We need someone like him to lift up the spirits of the people to believe again in God.”

Adela Petitto, 70, of Rancho Bernardo, a lifelong Catholic who immigrated to San Diego County from Argentina nine years ago

“We prayed every morning for the conclave, so when the white smoke appeared, you could hear the cheers throughout the whole school. There is so little tradition in the world these days, and this is just steeped in tradition. I said his name, and we all said, ‘Viva il Papa!’ It was heartwarming.”

Francie Wright, principal of Holy Trinity School in El Cajon

“The church was forgetting about the poor and now with this pope, we are hopeful that this will change.”

Juan Avila Cartas, 51, has sold religious artifacts from a stand outside Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Cathedral in Tijuana for 23 years

“thought i wouldn’t care but i got teary-eyed seeing the new pope. hope this sparks change & renewal in the church, and in the spirit :)”

Tweet from @leedelcastillo

“My Argentinian wife, on the pope: ‘Great, as if Argentinians needed some reason to stoke their South American superiority complex.’ Ha”

Tweet from John Kennard, via @jjkennard

“He’s from Latin America, and we have a very large Latino population at the parish, plus he chose the name Francis, so it all fits into our ministry and the people he cares for. Right now the Latino members of our staff are extremely excited, so I’m sure our Latino parishioners are excited. It’s really an acknowledgement of the work of the Latino church, the church of South America.”